Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Layman Waiting for Draft Day

(Photo courtsey of Maryland Athletics.)

On Thursday night, Jake Layman will be home in Wrentham surrounded by his family and friends waiting to see where his talents will take him next. The former King Philip High School and University of Maryland basketball star hopes to hear his named called during the NBA draft, but until that once in a lifetime moments happens, he waits...nervously.

"I'm definitely very nervous," Layman says.

But listening to him, you couldn't tell. The 6'9" forward realizes, at this point, there is nothing more he can do. "I've learned to just control what I can control," he said a few days before the draft. "I have done all I can up to this point to put myself in the best position to get drafted. Now I have to wait until Thursday."

He is hoping to hear his name in the late first round or maybe the early second. And as far as who might call his name, that's anyone's guess. "In terms of knowing which team is going to draft you, it's really tough to tell up until draft night," he says. "That's what makes it so stressful."

Layman finished his college career helping to bring the Maryland Terrapins to a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA tournament. It's the highest Maryland had finished in 13 years. Since the tournament, he has been preparing for his pre-draft workouts and interviews with NBA teams. In the past month, he met with 10 different teams. One of those teams, the first one he met with, happened also to be the team he grew up rooting for, the Boston Celtics. "I was very nervous. It was my first workout. I didn't know what to expect and, of course, it had to be for the team I grew up loving and watching play," Layman says. "Once you get in there, you realize how down to earth [Celtics General Manager] Danny Ainge is, walking around during the workout, coaching guys and telling them what to do. That put me at ease a little bit, and I got more comfortable out there. I was definitely not star struck. I was just so happy to be there because I grew up watching these guys play."

(Layman playing for KP in 2011. Photo courtsey of Doug Sprague of Gemini Photo Events)

The transition from Celtics fan to an NBA prospect started in Wrentham. Layman played in the MetroWest program and was even part of the after school basketball program at Wrentham Public Schools run by now retired teacher Tom Stone. During his KP High School years, he put the team on the map, leading the team back to the MIAA state tournament after a 15 year absence. His senior year, he would end up making a name for himself averaging 26 points, five blocks, and four assists per game.

What memory stands out from his time at KP? "I remember getting KP back to a point where basketball was relevant and people were looking forward to playing us and getting back to the state tournament, and winning a lot of games," Layman says.

At Maryland he was part of a resurgence with that program. During those years, he evolved as a player and become one of just 12 players in the school's history to record 1,400 points (1,436) and 600 rebounds (674). "I changed a lot. I'm still the same person, but I've improved a lot," Layman says. "I understand what kind of player I can be at the next level in the NBA. I've matured a lot and four years of college has definitely prepared me for that next step."

The thought of the next step, a career in the NBA, wasn't really on his mind until after his sophomore year of college. "I didn't really know going to college. The NBA wasn't a thought," he says. "I was hoping to play after college, but I didn't really know if I was going to be good enough to play in the NBA. But after my sophomore year, I definitely started to realize how good I could be and that the NBA was going to be an option."

Layman adds, "In high school your goal is to play at the highest level of college basketball and, once you get to college, your goal is to play at that next level."

Wherever he is drafted, he plans to always remember his roots. And the support he receives from the people of Wrentham, Plainville, and Norfolk is very much appreciated. "Growing up here has prepared me for college and the NBA," Layman says. "It's always awesome to get letters from Wrentham, Plainville, and Norfolk saying they watch my games and how much they're rooting for me. It is definitely special."

The NBA draft will be televised on ESPN with coverage starting at 7 p.m.